Bobby Byrne

Robert Byrne (; May 13, 1918 – November 25, 2006) was an American bandleader, trombonist, and music executive. His big band was well regarded. He flew aircraft in World War II, and later became a musical producer for television and albums credited to other artists.

Biography Early life and career Byrne was born on May 13, 1918, on a farm near Columbus, Ohio, to Clarence Byrne and his wife. Both of his parents were musicians; his mother was a concert pianist before marriage and, at the time of Byrne's birth, his father was in France with the U.S. Army band. where he became a music teacher of high repute. At one point, the senior Byrne invited Tommy Dorsey to hear the school's band, which was led by his son. Dorsey was impressed, and invited the younger Byrne to meet his brother Jimmy and hear the Dorsey Brothers band perform. He then asked Byrne to accompany the band to hear them play their next one-night stand. While there, he asked Byrne to sit in with the band for several minutes during the performance, taking Tommy's chair. Both Dorseys were impressed by his performance.

After an argument, the Dorsey Brothers ceased to speak to each other on May 30, 1935, resulting in Tommy refusing to play with the band. Their manager called in several replacements for the crucial trombone part, however, due to either personal or professional reasons, they all declined. The next offer was made to a sixteen-year-old Byrne, at 75 dollars a week. His mother instantly drove him (with a harp in addition to his three trombones) to the Glen Island Casino, By August, Byrne had recorded his first solo with the band on their hit single "From the Top of Your Head to the Tip of Your Toes". for whom he continued to record until at least April 1940. After signing contracts with Decca Records and the Glen Island Casino, Byrne's career as a bandleader appeared to be off to a positive start. After World War II began, Byrne struggled to keep his band going, constantly needing to replace band members lost to the draft. In 1943, while touring Florida, he joined the Army Air Corps. His band continued under Jack Jenney until he also joined the military several months later. He formed another band in 1949, featuring woodwind and French horn tone colorings. Bill Simon liked the sophisticated aural shadings, but felt they were not suited to many of the venues where the band performed. At this point Byrne signed with Mercury Records and became musical director for the ABC Television show Club Seven. He re-built his band yet again in 1950, eliminating woodwinds and focusing on brass and saxes, not to mention his occasional harp solo. This band included his brother Don and a sax section led by Larry Elgart. Critic Bill Simon considered this ensemble to be an improvement over Byrne's previous one. He applauded the improvements in singing and in the rhythmic numbers, while noticing the improved attendance at Byrne's performances.

Later life and career Bobby married Catherine Migliori in 1951. They had three daughters together, Barbara, Kathleen and Eileen. Bobby met Catherine at the Paramount Theater in New York City in 1950. While Bobby was on stage performing, he noticed Catherine sitting in the audience. He knew he had to meet her and went out of his way to do just that. Soon after that meeting, they started dating and then married. Their marriage lasted 24 years.

Finding the big-band scene in decline, Byrne disbanded his outfit to concentrate on recording studio work, and on radio and television. In 1953, he became the musical director for WNBT-TV, which included providing music with a Dixieland band for Steve Allen's late-night show. which appeared on the album In the Land of Hi-Fi with Julian Cannonball Adderley. In 1961, he joined Enoch Light's Grand Award Records in the A&R department. Byrne became a Command Records executive in the 1960s.

Style Byrne closely modelled his playing after Tommy Dorsey. Although known for his perfectionism, he was also recognised as being very affable. Bobby Byrne and the Alumni Orchestra. (1959, Top Rank 35-028) The Jazzbone's Connected to the Trombone. (1959, Grand Award) 1966-Magnificent Movie Themes. (1966, Command 894) Sound in the Eighth Dimension. (1968, Command) "How Can You Pretend" Decca 3020

"Hymn to the Sun" Cosmo 492

"Linger in My Arms a Little Longer" Cosmo 496

"So Beats My Heart for You" Cosmo 501

"You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" Cosmo 503

Other appearances

With the Henri René Orchestra RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt (RCA, 1953) That Bad Eartha (EP) (RCA, 1954) Down To Eartha (RCA, 1955) That Bad Eartha (LP) (RCA, 1956) Thursday's Child (RCA, 1957) With Cootie Williams Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor, 1958)